The Logic of Citizen V. Chernov

Published:PravdaNo. 37, May 4 (April 21), 1917.

      Published according to the text inPravda.Source:Lenin
	  Collected Works,

      Progress Publishers,1964,

      Moscow,Volume 24,

      page198.Translated:Isaacs BernardTranscription\Markup:B. BagginsandD. WaltersPublic Domain:Lenin Internet Archive

      1999

      (2005).You may freely copy, distribute,
	display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and
	commercial works. Please credit “Marxists Internet
	Archive” as your source.•README

CitizenV.
    Chernovwrites inDyelo Narodaof April 16:

“He{Lenin} did not even think that, even from his own point of
      view, Britain’s consent to his journey would have been better in
      that it would have been due to the pressure of the Russian
      revolution, whereas Germany’s consent may appear more suspicious
      as to its motives.”

“He{Lenin} did not even think that, even from his own point of
      view, Britain’s consent to his journey would have been better in
      that it would have been due to the pressure of the Russian
      revolution, whereas Germany’s consent may appear more suspicious
      as to its motives.”

Conclusion:Lenin is something of a maniac.

Verywell. But what about the thirty arrivals who belong todifferentparties, includingthe Bund?
      Are they all maniacs? Did none of them “even think”?

Further.How about the telegram from Martov,Natanson(the leader of the S. R. Party, mark you), Axelrod, and others,
      saying: “We find itabsolutelyimpossible to return to
      Russia via England”? (SeeRabochaya Gazetafor April 15.)

Doesthis mean that both Martov and Natanson are maniacs, that
      they too “did not even think”?

Butthese witnesses, whodo notbelong to our
      Party—Natanson is a witnessbelonging to V. Chernov’s
      party—confirm thefactthat it wasabsolutelyimpossible to make the journey any other
      way!

Whatis the conclusion? It is this—either V. Chernov is a
      queer fellow who uses phrases to avoid thefacts,or he
      has allowed himself to be so frightened by philistine-chauvinist
      gossip and slander that he has lost his head.